After spending almost 20 years as second generation in the oil and gas industry, with most of his time spent in Management and Administration, Gene made a drastic career change.

Raised in rural West Texas, Gene graduated from Plains High School, South Plains College with a degree in Criminal Justice and afterwards continuing his studies at Wayland Baptist University. Upon making the career change to the Funeral Service Profession, he graduated from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service with a degree in Mortuary Science. Gene became a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in the State of Texas after successfully negotiating the exams of the International Conference of Examining Boards, and is licensed in the State of New Mexico as well.

Gene has spent most of his adult life in community service having served on numerous boards, committees, and civic organizations. He was elected to three terms on the Levelland City Council before his move to the Dallas Metroplex. Prior to that, he served on the City of Levelland Planning and Zoning Commission for two terms.

Starting in a Funeral Home in Levelland, Texas, Gene’s career continued for three years in the Dallas area. On December 18, 2001, the purchase of Kerrville Funeral Home became official. Independent ownership and service to others in the community became reality. September 1, 2010, Kimble Funeral Home in Junction, Texas joined the KFH family, ready to serve the families in the Junction area. On December 23, 2016, the building was purchased and construction began for Krestridge Funeral Home in Levelland, Texas to become reality and also join the KFH family, giving the Levelland community a choice that was not present before. Upon completion of construction, Krestridge Funeral Home officially opened for business on September 1, 2016.

Community service continues to be a high priority for Gene. He has served , and currently serves many organizations, and on several boards in the Kerrville area and the State of Texas which include: Texas Governor appointed Commissioner of the Texas Funeral Service Commission 2009 - 2015, serving as Presiding Officer from 2012 - 2015; President of the Hill Country Funeral Directors Association for 2003 - 2004; Membership Resource Committee for 2005 - 2007, Professional Development Committee for 2007 -2008, Pursuit of Excellence Committee for 2011 - 2016 of the National Funeral Directors Association; Board Member of the Texas Funeral Directors Association for 2007 - 2009, a Board Member for 2005 - 2006, Secretary/Treasurer for 2006 - 2007, Vice-President for 2007 - 2008, and President for 2008 - 2009 of the TFDA South Central Region; Chair of the TFDA Legislative and Ethics Committees for 2015-2017, TFDA Secretary/Treasurer for 2017-2018, and President-Elect for 2018-2019; the Funeral Ethics Association; the American Society of Embalmers; a member of the Cremation Association of North America; a past member of the Sciences Exam Committee of the International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards from 2007 – 2010; a current member and Past President (2004-2005) of the Kerrville Host Lions Club; a member of the City of Kerrville Planning and Zoning Board for 2008-2011, elected to serve for a fourth term as Councilmember, Place 4 for the City of Kerrville and served as Mayor Pro-Tem (2011 – 2012 and 2014-2015), past Vice-President for the City of Kerrville, Texas Health Facilities Development Corporation; former Chairman and Advisory Board member of Kerrville Main Street; Advisory Board member for The Haven Alzheimer’s Care Center; former Board member for the K’Star Youth Shelter; former Board member for the Hill Country Chapter of the American Red Cross; former Board member for the Dietert Senior Center; a former member of the Starkey Elementary Campus Improvement Team from 2005 - 2012. He is also a former member of the Kerr County Ambassadors, a member of the 20th Anniversary Class (2005) of Leadership Kerr County, a current member of the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce; former member of the Kerrville Networking Group; currently a member the West Kerr County Chamber of Commerce, the Junction Chamber of Commerce, and the Levelland Chamber of Commerce.

Gene is a 32deg. Master Mason with membership of Kerrville Masonic Lodge #697, A.F. & A.M., the Scottish Rite Valley of San Antonio, the Alzafar Shrine Temple of San Antonio, TX, a Past President of Hill Country Scottish Rite Club, a member of the York Rite Chapter #305, R.A.M., Council #240, R. & S.M., the Llano Commandery #54,the Brownwood Commandery #22, the Hill Country Shrine Club, the Hi-12 Club, and the Kerrville Order of Eastern Star #24; additionally a member of the Bandera Lodge #1123 (formerly the Medina Lodge #1319), Center Point Rising Star Lodge #429, Junction City Lodge #548, Levelland Lodge #1236, and the Tranquility Lodge #2000. Gene has served a six year term on the Committee on Credentials for the Grand Lodge of Texas.

The fall of 2004 brought additional professional certifications and recognition for Gene. He completed the requirements for certification in the Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice to become a Certified Funeral Service Practitioner (CFSP), and successfully completed the course work offered by the National Funeral Directors Association to become a Certified Preplanning Consultant (CPC).

Gene has been published in the TFDA magazine, “Texas Director” with his authored article titled, “Personalization: Here Today, Tomorrow, and Forever.” He was also featured in the “Texas Director” in the July 2005 edition with an article titled “Caring for the Departed.” Gene has been a continuing education presenter for the spring 2005, the fall 2005, and the spring 2008 “Continuing Education Symposium” sponsored by Texas Funeral Service Commission in Austin, Texas. The International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association hosted Gene to present at the March 2006 International Convention that was held in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gene offered the Commencement Address for the summer graduating Class of 2011at Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service in Houston, Texas and was invited to give the Commencement Address for the spring graduating Class of 2013 at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service.

Despite all of these activities, Gene does find time for his family. His lovely wife Katie, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Middle School Counselor, is also a Licensed Funeral Director as well as the Director of After Care and Grief Recovery for Kerrville, Kimble, and Krestridge Funeral Homes. They have four children, and four grandchildren, although their nest is now empty. Their two furry babies make up for the kids being gone! They are both members of the First United Methodist Church, Kerrville, Texas.

In the daily management and ownership of the KFH family of Funeral Homes and Crematory, Gene has a basic guideline that he and the staff follow, which is: “Treat all families with dignity, pride, and honor.” Service is also a high priority, with the constant reminder that Kerrville, Kimble, and Krestridge Funeral Homes “serve one family at a time.” Each family is as important as the other, and they should each be treated with the same respect.

Coming from a background of social work and education, Katie Allen is well experienced in working with people.

As a child of an Air Force family, Katie grew up in various locations, but considers San Angelo, TX her home town and attended Angelo State University where she earned a B.A. in Psychology. Kate continued her education at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX earning a M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling.

After years of social work, Katie had the opportunity to begin a rewarding career as a school counselor, focusing on Special Education. During this time she became licensed in the State of Texas as a Licensed Professional Counselor and opened a Private Counseling Practice in which she offers counseling to individuals and groups. In the summer of 2018, Katie retired from Kerrville ISD after many years serving as Counselor on two different campuses. She has now made her home at Ingram ISD Middle School as their Counselor, where she enjoys her responsibilities.

Certified in Trauma and Loss, Katie currently serves as the Director of Grief Recovery and After Care for Kerrville, Kimble, and Krestridge Funeral Homes. She continues to further develop the After Care programs for the families served by the Funeral Homes as well as others in the communities who might need these services. Katie is a Licensed Funeral Director, having completed her Funeral Director studies through St. Louis Community College, and is willing to serve families along with the rest of the KFH Team.

Katie is active in the Kerrville community in many different areas. She has previously served on the Advisory Board for The Haven Alzheimer’s Care Center, the Advisory Board for Any Baby Can, a Board Member of the Hill Country Crises Council, currently volunteers as a trainer and facilitator for Peterson Hospice through the “Bridging the Gap” children’s grief program, has played for the Hand Bell Choir of First United Methodist Church, a member of the Kerrville Order of Eastern Star #24, Texas Counseling Association, and the Hill Country Counselors Association in which she is served as President (2011 - 2012). Katie is a member of the Texas Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, the Cremation Association of North America, the Hill Country Funeral Directors Association, and the Funeral Ethics Association, along with membership in Kerrville Area Chamber of Commerce, and the West Kerr Chamber of Commerce, Junction Chamber of Commerce, and the Levelland Chamber of Commerce.

As the wife of a Funeral Director and being a Funeral Director herself, along with the credentials that she brings with her to the Funeral Homes, Katie feels that she clearly understands the importance of the needs of family members who have experienced the loss of a loved one. Her compassion for people and their emotions are a valuable asset to compliment the many areas of service that the Funeral Homes have to offer.